Wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle

ABSTRACT

There is provided a wheel assembly and associated method of mounting wheels about a hub, by providing a hub comprising a shoulder having a clearing space allowing a wheel introduced by one side of the hub to be pivoted to an opposite side thereof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on a Canadian application No 2,463,399 filed on Apr. 6, 2004. All documents above are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tracked vehicles. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, track-type vehicles comprise track assembly that usually includes an endless belt, which wraps around a drive wheel, an idler wheel and a number of guide wheels supporting a lower ground engaging run of the track. The inner surface of the endless belt has a number of extending guide lugs, which are guided through a channel formed by the wheel arrangement. During use of the vehicle, the drive wheel rotates and engages the endless belt thereby causing the belt to rotate around the path defined by the drive wheel, idler wheel and guide wheels. Rotation of the endless belt causes each of the guide lugs to pass through the channel defined by the drive wheel, idler wheel and each of the guide wheels. Having the guide lugs passing through the guiding channel enables the belt to remain within the rolling path.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,426 issued in 2000 discloses a tracked vehicle with a guide wheel assembly that may be retrofitted and positioned in the track assembly in place of previously used single wheels.

There is still a need in the art for a wheel assembly allowing mounting a plurality of wheels on a single housing in conditions of limited access thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, there is provided a wheel assembly comprising a hub and wheels to be mounted on the hub; wherein the hub comprises shoulders each including a mounting clearing, the wheels being mounted to the hub by retaining flanges thereof, the retaining flanges of the wheels being mounted radially from the hub on the shoulders of the hub.

There if further provided a wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle with a plurality of wheels mounted on a each side of a hub, the hub having a shoulder provided with a mounting clearing, part of the plurality of wheels being introduced by a first inside side on the hub and made to pivot across the mounting clearing to a desired position thereof on a second inside side of the hub, and a remaining part of the plurality of wheels being directly mounted on the first inside side on the hub.

There if further provided a method for mounting wheels on a hub from a first inside side thereof, comprising the steps of providing a mounting clearing on shoulders of the hub; introducing first wheels to be mounted on a inside side of the hub opposite the first inside side thereof by the first inside side of the hub; pivoting the first wheels across the mounting clearing to a desired position thereof on the inside side of the hub opposite the first inside side thereof; and mounting second wheels to be mounted on the first inside side of the hub.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a projection view of the assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the Figures of the appended drawings, a wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a hub 10 for mounting wheels 20.

The wheels 20 typically comprise retaining flanges 24, made in a metal, such as steel or aluminium for example, securing a sleeve 22 resistant to wear and made in a material such a composite, a rubber or urethane for example, or combination thereof. The sleeve 22 may further comprise reinforcement.

The retaining flanges 24 are mounted radially from the hub 10, mounted by means of a nut 26 and bolt 28 fastening means on shoulders 30 of the hub 10.

The shoulders 30 each include a mounting clearing 32.

For mounting a wheel 20 on the hub 10 on any side thereof, for example on a right inside, the wheel 20 introduced by a left inside on the hub 10 is made to pivot across the mounting clearing 32 to its desired position on the right inside of the hub 10.

People in the art will appreciate that the wheel assembly of the present invention allows mounting a number of wheels from a same side of the track assembly without needing to disassemble nor the hub or involved bearings, thereby allowing greatly reducing maintenance costs.

Moreover, since such an assembly allows mounting wheels of a same diameter at any position about the hub, fabrication costs are also greatly reduced, since only one type of wheels is required.

Such a wheel assembly may be in a variety of tracked vehicle, including for example industrial skid steer loaders, snow grooming machines and agricultural tractor.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it may be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as described herein. 

1. A wheel assembly, comprising: a hub; and wheels to be mounted on said hub; wherein said hub comprises shoulders each including a mounting clearing, the wheels being mounted to said hub by retaining flanges thereof, said retaining flanges of the wheels being mounted radially from the hub on the shoulders of the hub.
 2. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retaining flanges secure a sleeve resistant to wear.
 3. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retaining flanges are made a metallic material.
 4. The wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said retaining flanges are made in one of steel and aluminium.
 5. The wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve is made in one of a composite, a rubber, urethane and combination thereof.
 6. The wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises an internal reinforcement.
 7. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retaining flanges are mounted by means of a nut and bolt fastening means on the shoulders of the hub.
 8. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are mounted on the hub from a single accessible side thereof, by introducing the wheels by the single side on the hub and making them to pivot across the mounting clearing to desired position thereof on an opposite inside side of the hub.
 9. A wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle with a plurality of wheels mounted on a each side of a hub, said hub having a shoulder provided with a mounting clearing, part of the plurality of wheels being introduced by a first inside side on the hub and made to pivot across said mounting clearing to a desired position thereof on a second inside side of the hub, and a remaining part of the plurality of wheels being directly mounted on the first inside side on the hub.
 10. A method for mounting wheels on a hub from a first inside side thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a mounting clearing on shoulders of the hub; introducing first wheels to be mounted on a inside side of the hub opposite the first inside side thereof by the first inside side of the hub; pivoting the first wheels across the mounting clearing to a desired position thereof on the inside side of the hub opposite the first inside side thereof; and mounting second wheels to be mounted on the first inside side of the hub. 